Vitiligo or Pityriasis Versicolor?

How do you tell the difference between vitiligo and pityriasis versicolor?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Tinea versicolor is caused by a fungus that lives in the skin of almost all adults. Factors that can cause the fungus to become more visible include high humidity and immune or hormone abnormalities. Treatment involves topical and oral antifungal medicines.

Vitiligo is a pigmentation disorder in which melanocytes (the cells that make pigment) in the skin are destroyed. As a result, white patches appear on the skin in different parts of the body. Diagnosis can be confirmed by external examination, blood tests to check skin cell count for melanocytes and biopsy of the skin patches.

I hope it helps. Take care and please do keep me posted in case you have any additional doubts. Kind regards.